Adult CPR, help!

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Please, would you mind to tell me the order of actuation when there is a cardiac arrest? Because I've seen different order of actuation..

One was:

  1. Asses responsiveness
  2. Active emergency medical system
  3. Call for a defibrillator
  4. Asses breathing..

The other one was:

  1. Assess responsiveness
  2. Assess breathing...
  3. Call for help or active emergency..
  4. Call for defibrillator...

Thank you!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

From what I remember of CPR training:

* Is the area safe?

* Assess the patient (taking pulse in 10 seconds or less as well as checking for breathing; this also includes checking responsiveness)) while you call for 911 / emergency response.

* Start compressions at the rate of 100 per minute at least 2 inches deep for adults. 30 compressions, then 2 breaths; rinse and repeat.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): First aid - MayoClinic.com is a good read.

Thank you.

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Hi pmabraham,

In the book that I am using to study ( Comprehensive review by Maryann Hogan) tells the first option. But when I answered one of the practice questions from 3500 about these topic it said that the right option was the second one...so I am not sure...and of course I don't want to answer the wrong one in the real NCLEX test!

Thank you!

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I recently took my BLS and ACLS and The previous poster is correct. If you are by yourself you first check for safety then assess for responsiveness, if unresponsive assess for breathing and pulse (no longer than 10 sec.), call for help and start CPR. You should shock a shockable rhythm as soon as possible. So if you have an AED available (very unlikely outside of a hospital setting) do that first. These are the guidelines of the American Heart Association. Remember: push fast, push hard.

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Thank You Elena!!!

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